Cromartie doesn’t want to rush back, possibly hurt Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie says he wants to make sure his sprained left knee is healed before taking the field again so he doesn’t hurt the team.

Cromartie was injured Sunday in the season-opening win over Cleveland. It was initially feared that he suffered a season-ending injury, and Cromartie said he heard a "pop" when he went down on a non-contact play. He was carted from the sideline to the locker room, but an MRI on Monday revealed only a sprain and no ligament damage.

The cornerback says Wednesday that the knee is still sore and he’s not certain when he’ll be able to practice. He acknowledged that he played through a hip injury in 2013, a decision that might have hurt the team because he wasn’t healthy.